Atlanta Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Atlanta, GA: $24.60/hr median hourly wage, $51,170 median annual salary, cost of living index 107, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Georgia taxes.
Atlanta Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Atlanta, GA is $24.60/hr,and the median annual wage is $51,170. Entry-level pay estimates around $15.25/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $34.93/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area (2,889,670 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Atlanta shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$51,170
$24.60/hr
Cost of Living
107
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.2%
rate
Atlanta, GA Overview
Population
498,715
Median Salary
$51,170
Average Salary
$71,900
Avg Commute
28 min
Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Rent
$1,700/mo
Job Growth
+2.8%
Sales Tax
8.9%
Atlanta is located in Georgia with a population of 498,715. The median annual wage across all occupations is $51,170 ($24.60/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro), which is $190 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 28 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.8%.
Atlanta Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Atlanta, GA built around the $51,170 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $31,725 | $15.25/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $51,170 | $24.60/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $72,661 | $34.93/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $91,083 | $43.79/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Atlanta Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Atlanta, GA, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$41,490
$3,457.52/month · $1,595.78/biweekly · Effective Rate: 18.9%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,595.78 take-home per paycheck after estimated Georgia and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$51,170
Federal Tax
-$3,960
State Tax
-$1,805
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,915
Net Pay
$41,490
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,264.17 | $51,170.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$330.03 | -$3,960.40 |
| Georgia State Tax (3.53% eff.) | -$150.41 | -$1,804.88 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$264.38 | -$3,172.54 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$61.83 | -$741.97 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,457.52 | $41,490.22 |
Salary Comparison: Atlanta vs Other Cities
See how Atlanta's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $51,170 | 107 | $47,822 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Sandy Springs, GA | $51,170 | 112 | $45,688 |
| Roswell, GA | $51,170 | 108 | $47,380 |
| Johns Creek, GA | $51,170 | 112.8 | $45,363 |
| Alpharetta, GA | $51,170 | 89.5 | $57,173 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Atlanta
Atlanta's cost of living index is 107 (national average = 100). Living in Atlanta is 7% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Annual Rent Cost
$20,400
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $41,490 annual take-home pay in Atlanta has the purchasing power of approximately $38,776 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $54,752 in Atlanta to match a $51,170 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Atlanta
Atlanta's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $51,170.
Salary Tips for Atlanta Workers
- Research top industries. Atlanta's top industries include Technology, Finance, Entertainment. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $51,170 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Job Salaries in Atlanta, GA
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Atlanta. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area (85 of 340); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Atlanta's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Atlanta salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Atlanta indexed at 107.
- Median salary: $51,170 annual, $24.60 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA MSA (2,889,670 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $71,900 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Atlanta was $72,000.
- Tax burden reflects Georgia 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 4.99%) (no local income tax), sales tax (8.9%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Atlanta: 3.2%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Finance, Entertainment, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.8% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Georgia.
- Housing context: median home price $380,000, median rent $1,700/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Atlanta, GA:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Atlanta unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Atlanta QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Georgia, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Atlanta's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Georgia labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Atlanta, GA?
The median hourly wage in Atlanta, GA is $24.60 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $51,170. Entry-level workers are estimated around $15.25/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $34.93/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Atlanta, GA?
The median salary in Atlanta, GA is $51,170 per year, or $24.60 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $71,900. This is $190 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Atlanta, GA?
Atlanta's cost of living index is 107 (national average = 100), meaning it is 7% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $380,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,700.
What are the best industries in Atlanta?
The top industries in Atlanta, GA include Technology, Finance, Entertainment. The city has a job growth rate of 2.8% and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $51,170.
How does Atlanta's salary compare to other cities?
Atlanta's median salary of $51,170 is 0.4% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 107), the real purchasing power is approximately $47,822.
What is the minimum wage in Atlanta, GA?
The minimum wage in Atlanta, GA is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.